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Best of Expanse: the Creative Conference for Social Good

Expanse is a one-day conference which brings together people from a diverse range of professional and non-professional backgrounds who want to use their skills and talents for the ‘good worth doing’ in the world. Held in Melbourne (21 November) and Sydney (28 November), Expanse provides an opportunity to connect with other likeminded people and organisations who are determined to be a force for change and are fighting for human development and human rights around the world.

Expanse is the brainchild of Agency, an award-winning creative studio who have been working with activists, philanthropists and humanitarians passionate about creating a better world for over 10 years. Agency believe that when people align their abilities and skills with the overarching needs of the world they hold the greatest potential for systemic change. Through Expanse, Agency aims to inspire and equip attendees through practical and innovative content from experts in the social good space.

These thought-provoking quotes represent some of the key takeaways from this year’s Expanse conference.

“Charity is great but to overcome poverty we need business.”– Murray Bunton, Executive Director at Agency

“If you’re running the long race, take time out to recalibrate.”– Wesley Rodricks, Head of Creative Design at Thankyou Group

“Step out of your tribe and recognise your own prejudices.”– Audette Exel AO, Founder at The Adara Group

“Be an activist that starts a business. And don’t sell out.”– Adam Valvasori, Campaign for Australian Aid Campaign Manager at World Vision Australia

“Maybe we are moving towards a point when we have to start biting the hand that feeds us a bit more.”– Nishan David, Co-Founder & Director at Bloodless

Adapted from the excellent book The Art of Social Enterprise: Business as if People Mattered by Carl Frankel & Allen Bromberger, the follow 10 commandments are indisputable principles about how to beat the odds and excel at social enterprise. They aren’t general guidelines to hazily consider embracing. In the words of Frankel and Bromberger, “they are commandments you ignore at your peril.”

Social Impact, Intrapreneurship, Benefit Corporation, Shared Value — there are a lot of buzzwords that get thrown around in the social arena. It is important to understand what these terms mean and when to use them – or when not to use them. Here is a quick guide to help you get to grips with all the jargon and fanfare that surround social change. Whether you add them to your lexicon or boycott them is up to you, just make sure you know what they mean.